The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Pandemic purpose
The clothing firm that has made 500,000 NHS gowns
The Fife-based business behind the popular Keela brand of outdoor clothing has had a busy time helping the ongoing fight against Covid-19.
Ardmel Group has doubled its Glenrothes workforce to 100 and opened a new factory as it stepped up the manufacture of isolation gowns for the NHS.
There are two main parts to the thriving business, which was founded in 1973.
The engineering side is involved in special-purpose automated machine manufacture, seam sealing tapes and adhesive.
The other part of the operation is Keela, which makes a wide range of garments including for
outdoor professionals such as rescue teams and the police.
The company also has a garment factory in Sri Lanka, which employs more than 1,000 people and produces items for many brands around the world.
Sales director Sam Fernando said helping in the battle against the virus had left its mark on everyone at Ardmel.
She added: “This is a time that we will never forget. There have been challenging days when laughter, smiles and tears have come in equal measure. I am so incredibly proud of the team who have been incredibly resilient and proactive to ensure that we have met the many challenges.”
Sam said one of the most positive things to come out
of the pandemic was the number of UK firms who dropped whatever they were doing to try to help out in the effort against Covid-19 – often at significant cost to themselves.
“We had the same overwhelming need to do our bit for the country,” she said. “We have a large emergency services sector we supply and a fantastic manufacturing team in Scotland.
“This meant we were able to turn our efforts to whatever was needed for hospitals and care homes – such as gowns, masks etc.
“To ensure we could keep social distancing, we purchased and kitted out a new 10,000sq ft factory to ensure the manufacturing side was safe.
“We worked closely with the NHS and eventually started manufacturing isolation gowns 100% wholly made in Scotland – with fabric coming from Don & Low of Forfar. So far we have made more than 500,000 gowns.”
Ardmel is owned by Sam’s father, Rube Fernando. He came to Scotland in the 1960s from Sri Lanka to work for Singers sewing machines, who sent him to Strathclyde to do an engineering course.
Sam said her father had realised that to succeed in his aspirations, he needed to be his own boss.
She added: “Rube has always been confident in his dream.
“That’s not to say there have not been tough times – back in the early days in the 1980s for more than a year all the directors didn’t take a salary and for many years we had the family house as collateral for the banks. Hard work and a strong vision has carried us through.
“Even now at 77, Rube is still working hard and he is passionate about UK manufacturing and encouraging a buy-local attitude.”
Sam made a plea for the UK Government to support the country’s manufacturing base.
She added: “Even if a small fraction of government procurement was allocated to UK industry, the knock-on effect on the industry would be staggering.
“It would save the ailing manufacturing industry, ensure valuable skills are not lost, providing immediate jobs and boosts to the local and national economy.
“It’s like planting acorns to build a forest. If we don’t put some investment in now and ensure we keep the ground fertile, then in 10 to 15 years’ time the industry will be beyond recovery.
“As a country we will be poorer for this and will have lost resiliency.”
Sam said Ardmel has managed to stay ahead of competitors over the decades through innovation and hard graft.
“Rube’s philosophy has always been on the bigger picture and not to focus on the bottom line,” she said.
“As he says constantly, ‘A penny in my pocket is better than no pennies at all’.
“Rube’s biggest battle throughout his career has been regarding making sure testing standards are relevant.
“His biggest fight is to do with waterproof and breathable garments where the international standard is for testing in Sahara conditions – no rain and high heat, which is obviously not relevant to the end use of a waterproof item.
“He has developed his own testing equipment that has been taken up to show how to test waterproof garments in more real-life conditions.”
Sam said there are challenges to Ardmel being based in Scotland, but also benefits.
“Geographically, being closer to our main markets would be beneficial, but without doubt the biggest plus for us is the people.
“We have a real mix of fabulous characters working for us.
“In a big storm last August, our factories were badly flooded.
“Staff heard the news and trooped in early next morning wearing wellies and carrying mops and just got stuck into clearing up the mess.
“And it’s been like that during the pandemic – people just getting on with it and making it work with a joke, thumbs-up and a positive attitude.”